NREL Leads Demo of New Energy Management System at U.S. Naval Base

March 24, 2014

As part of a joint initiative between the U.S. Navy and NREL, the laboratory successfully demonstrated a new custom-engineered energy management system (EMS) recently. An EMS is a robust monitoring and control system that can be augmented with energy storage. The new EMS design and control concept was developed by NREL staff and successfully demonstrated at a naval base in Hawaii. Key objectives of the technology included maximizing utilization of solar photovoltaic (PV) resources on the base while smoothing the effects of variable solar PV generation by charging and discharging batteries during transient clouding events.

EMS technologies like the one deployed in Hawaii can also be configured to provide other functions such as power factor correction, peak load demand shifting, frequency regulation, load management and demand response, voltage support, and uninterruptable power for grid failure ride-through. From a site master planning perspective, an EMS could be integrated with infrastructure projects that include data acquisition, distribution system control, energy security, and diesel generator plant improvements—reducing fuel, emissions, and maintenance costs.